Though state Auditor Dave Yost said he is uncertain about its impact and warned Republican
lawmakers against acting so quickly, the Senate rapidly approved a bill yesterday that would
largely freeze Yost out of auditing the JobsOhio books.

A day after House Republicans ignored Yost’s request to delay action on the bill for a week,
Senate Republicans did the same, passing the bill less than 24 hours after the auditing provision
sprang up in a committee and moved through with lightning speed. The bill now heads to Gov. John
Kasich, who was pushing to get it passed.

The bill ensures that the $100 million a year JobsOhio will be getting from a lease of state
wholesale liquor profits is considered private money and cannot be audited by Yost. The funds will
undergo an audit by a private firm.

But Yost, who has clashed with fellow Republican Gov. John Kasich over the accountability of
money flowing to JobsOhio, is worried about the bill redefining “public money.”

“With only a few hours to review it, I am uncertain as to all its legal implications and its
impact on matters wholly unrelated to JobsOhio,” Yost wrote to senators. “In particular, the new
definition of ‘public money’ is untested and begs further consideration, and I cannot support it.
It may well have unintended consequences in other areas of public accountability — although on such
short notice, I am hard-pressed to state definitively what it does or does not mean.”

Yost was made aware of the amendment shortly before it was proposed Wednesday morning, even
though he had been in negotiations for months with the Kasich administration, JobsOhio and GOP
lawmakers about his desire to audit the nonprofit entity created two years ago to take over most
state economic-development activity.

Senate President Keith Faber, R-Celina, said the bill follows the agreement that was being
worked out with Yost — a point Yost disputes.

“My understanding is the auditor had reviewed it,” Faber said. “I know his letter indicated
something to the contrary, but my understanding (is) this was language that was essentially agreed
on.”

Asked why he wouldn’t wait a week, Faber said the process was not rushed because talks with Yost
had been ongoing.

“The auditor doesn’t get to audit private money, and that’s the big distinction here,” he
said.

Sen. Kris Jordan, R-Powell, joined all Democrats in opposing the bill.

Democrats have questioned what Kasich and legislative Republicans are trying to hide in not
allowing a public audit of JobsOhio. Kasich and JobsOhio supporters counter that such scrutiny
could chill business relationships with the state and harm other agreements, such as Ohio State
University’s leasing of its parking system.

Democrats also have argued that JobsOhio should adhere to the same transparency and ethics as
other state agencies, considering it is a state-created entity funded by state liquor profits,
staffed largely by former state development employees and run by a Kasich-appointed board.